eMpower • iMpact • iMpart
The fire was designed to destroy them. The fire was created to silence them. The fire’s purpose was to intimidate, to punish, to deter. Do you feel as if you are in the fire? We have a plaque destroying. We have politicians silencing. We have social media intimidating, punishing, and deterring. But if you look closely, you will see Him. His form is like the Son of God and He...
Would Jesus support vaccinations? Let me tell you what He would NOT do first: 1. Jesus would not divide – the vaccinated against the unvaccinated. He would invite both to the table. 2. He would not refuse to heal and he would not judge. 3. He would not vilify leaders on either side. 4. He would not mock, exclude, or wish death on either side. 5. He would not accuse...
“And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.” Hosea 2:15a ESV The valley of Achor represents shame, disobedience, failure, mistakes, greed, defeat, regret, punishment, death. (Joshua 7). It is translated the valley of trouble. It is the epitome of our past pain, hurts, discomforts, regrets. But only God can take a place of destruction and plant a vineyard in its...
It was a beautiful Friday evening in the summer. The afternoon sun was beating down but a slight breeze made the evening sun bearable. My head was full of details. I was in full Martha mode. The text from a friend cancelling because of sickness did not help my state at all. Amazon had dropped the ball. Worship was cancelled because we had to reschedule due to rain. Here I...
$3.48. That was the cost of my humility lesson yesterday. I met with a young woman who will be working with MBolden Ministry this summer at a Coffee House. When we got there she said, I have a coupon for a free drink. Mindlessly, I let her pay for her own coffee. Afterwards I apologized, “I’m sorry, I should have gotten that for you. You could have used your free...
Of all the 7 billion people on the planet, I’m God’s favorite “Me”! He uniquely knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I am a divine collaboration of the trinity. (Psalms 139:13, Genesis 1:26) I was chosen for such a time as this. (I Peter 2:9. Esther 4:14) I am His poem written for good works. (Ephesians 2:10) I can boldly go into His presence because His scepter is always...
“In this world, you are going to have troubles. But the question becomes will you suffer through it or will you trust through it?” I want to get to the point where trusting through it is my default. Unfortunately, so many times it’s not. Due to the forecasted storms last week, we had to reschedule an outreach event. This meant vendors and volunteers had to be rescheduled. My first reaction...
Yesterday, I read things that Church leaders had said or done that made me cringe. I found myself thinking, “I don’t want to be associated with Christians. I don’t want to be grouped in the same category.” Now, before you start praying for my soul, let me say this. I love Jesus Christ. I think the Bible is true yet complicated. There are certain passages I don’t understand but I...
What must I do to be accepted by God? Read my Bible daily? Worship constantly? Pray without ceasing? Feed the poor? Evangelize my neighborhood? Attend church regularly? Tithe? The Apostle Paul tells us this: “I could not make myself acceptable to God by obeying the Law of Moses. God accepted me simply because of my faith in Christ.” (Philippians 3:9 CEV). “He [God] made us accepted in the Beloved.” (Ephesians...
Way before it was a Nike slogan, Paul encouraged his readers in Romans 12 to”Just Do It!” Today, I think most church people feel as if their gift isn’t “significant” unless it is used and sanctioned by the church. So we wait for permission to use our gifts. We wait to be asked to serve on a team or lead a ministry. But the gifts God has given you were...